We have had a local hero for many years in Merrick and a recently published book now brings him back into focus. The hero? "Roxey," the Long Island Railroad dog!

For several years, the story goes, Roxey the dog would hop onto a Long Island Rail Road train and take it into Pennsylvania Station. The cute little dog was known by both the riders and the conductors and in those days they just allowed him his free rides without any fuss. He would take the train from several different stations -- among them Merrick. He seemed to know how to hop on to the New York bound train and goodness only knows, how to hop onto the train that returned him to his Long Island destination. Toward the end of his years, he was befriended by the station-master's wife and lived out his time in Merrick. Subsequently, a memorial to Roxey was built in Merrick and you can still find it there today located on the LIRR Merrick Station parking field just east of Merrick Avenue and facing toward Sunrise Highway. There was a trough for water to feed the strays that frequented that area but that part of the memorial is no longer kept up.

Now, fast forward to 2010. The Long Island author Heather Worthington just had the story of this cute little dog published in an engaging children's book (really for all ages), and it is called MILES OF SMILES: THE STORY OF ROXEY. Ms. Worthington will be coming to Merrick to a meeting of the Historical Society of the Merricks that is co-sponsored by the Merrick Library. She will be here to talk to us and show us her illustrated story of "how it was published," and, furthermore, she will stay at the end of the meeting to autograph a copy of her book which will be on sale.

The day to be circled on your calendar is Wednesday, September 15 at the Merrick Library located just south of Sunrise Highway on Merrick Avenue. The session will start at 7 pm and will run until 9 pm. This is an interesting occasion for us all -- Merrick is on the map again, and you are urged to attend the most promising session with author Worthington.

Bring the children, of course, but what she has to say should appeal to all ages. You will absolutely love the "President Teddy Roosevelt" story!